Australia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary

Australia
47.5%
in 2024
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
48.7%
in 2021
Australia rank
11th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
9th

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary over time

  • Australia
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1020304050197119972024

How they compare

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 48.7% against 47.5% in Australia, a difference of 1.2%.

The two have swapped places 3 times across 9 shared years of data; in 2009 it was Australia ahead.

Australia ranks 11th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th of 129 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Australia averaged higher in 2 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
2000s 36.8% 31.5% 5.3% Australia
2010s 39.4% 37.4% 2.0% Australia
2020s 46.7% 48.0% 1.2% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, Australia or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 48.7% against 47.5% in Australia as of 2021.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary between Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
1.2%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
9 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2021.
How do Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Australia ranks 11th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th of 129 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/australia/united-kingdom/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/australia/united-kingdom/">Australia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
129 places, 2,142 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.